When Variety‘s Anne Thompson first started blogging it was one more great industry blog to check out, but the damn thing has slowly degenerated into something of a cross between and insidery site that is extremely informative and unique, to a site that is trying to be like every other fanboy blog. I actually saw them promote an online widget for Twilight once. A freaking widget! So, when Anne posts a reader reaction to a screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button I am not sure if this is like reading one of the myriad of Ain’t It Cool News reader reports or like reading an actualy report worth my attention. The fact that it gushes all over the film leads me to believe it is one we should pass one, but here is how it reads.
The best option is to makea drinking game out of it and invite friends to participate everytime a glowing adjective is used.
It’s magic realism propelled by extraordinary filmmaking technology but it’s not remotely what I’d call cold. It creates a world of oddities and wonderful, off-kilter characters but the whole piece is anchored by a decades long relationship that gets strained, frayed, breaks and rebuilds into something profound and moving.
The achievement is big and bold and ambitious and life-affirming, but the sentimentality is always toughened by the continual sense of loss and deep sadness at the transitory nature of the human condition. If it sounds like an art movie, it absolutely is, but it’s a four quadrant art film!
I didn’t find it too heavy handed or annoyingly obvious or overreaching for that matter. There’s a very sure touch and remarkably deft pacing which is essential to pulling off its balance of whimsy, weariness and wonderment.
Whole bunch of Oscar noms across the board in all the major and tech categories, would seem almost certain noms for Pitt and Blanchett, Fincher, Roth, Dp, editor, etc etc. There are so many supporting roles that it will be hard to sort out noms in those categories, but if I had to call out one, it would be Jason Flemyng as Benjamin’s father, as he really adds great gravity and humanity to this key role.
Can’t wait to see what the Fincher freaks make of it. For the record, I am not one of them. Liked fight club, somewhat annoyed by seven, didn’t like zodiac all that much. so i am not a fincher kool aid drinker. he was employed here to bring a very difficult piece of material to life and he’s sure put everything he’s learned about bravura imagemaking/moviemaking into it.
A “whole bunch” of Oscar noms eh? Why fancy that, perhaps it’ll be just as good as ol’ Jeb said it’d be! Gimme a break, I’ll hold my opinion for legitimate reactions with actual names attached to them.
That said, here is a new TV Spot that just found its way online. I don’t have any adjectives for it, just a verb, watch:
